Reasons For Cultural Diversity: Invasion Sucession Theory And Filtering Theory

Question 1

What are artefacts, mentefacts and sociofacts?

Answer 1

Artefacts- Objects
Mentefacts- Shared meaning
Sociofacts- shared behaviour

Question 2

Why does segregation between communities, particularly the conservative, white middle class society and other racial groups occur?

Answer 2

• Conservative, white middle class society thinks other racial
  groups don’t share the same values
• Therefore, treats other racial groups as outsiders
• Therefore, takes action to exclude them

Question 3

What are the positive reasons for a community segregating themselves?

Answer 3

Positive reasons
• Accommodating difference
• Helps social group to keep cohesion
• Keeps cultural values
• To maintain cultural specific amenities and services

Question 4

What are negative reasons for a community segregating themselves?

Answer 4

Negative reasons
• Helps protection against attack
• Lack of trust
• Discrimination – e.g. job/income related/estate agents
• Language barriers

Question 5

Explain the Invasion/Succession theory.

Hint: you are forcing people and communities to segregate

Answer 5

Process by which new immigrants to a city move to
and dominate or take over areas or neighbourhoods
that were previously occupied by older immigrant
groups.

• Starting at the centre, with a ‘black ethnic
  group’, you get greater degree of filling
• Eventually the tolerance that whites have for
  blacks dissolves, and you get white flight.
• Over time the whites move outward.
• Different groups have difference tolerances
• Black prefer mixed areas
• Whites like mixed upto 10% black
• So when you hit 35-50% black, you get racial instability in the ecological succession, and white flight occurs.

Question 6

Explain the Filtering theory.

Hint: People are making a choice.

Answer 6

3 stages
- Assumptions
• White don’t mind blacks, if blacks in minority (15-20%),
• Blacks like mixed communities, but minimum is 30%

• Changes
  • Black population starts to build
  • White looks at the situation – When it gets to 15-20% black they decide not to buy
  • Prices come down
  • Blacks can enter the newly vacated areas and at 20-30% black, you reach tipping point
• Result
  • Black population is willing to enter

Question 7

What is the impact of a greater diversity?

Answer 7

More diversity leads to more assimilation, which leads to less segregation due to increased tolerance